Arise, shine: for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
A beautiful monochromatic illustration of the Holy Family in red. The figures are aligned, one in front of the other, with Joseph at the back surrounding the family with protective arms and Mary in the foreground presenting the Christ Child to the world. A palm branch is visible at the left and a lily blossom at the right.
Rev. Edward Michael Catich (1906-1979)
Edward Catich, a native of Montana, was orphaned at age 12 and sent to Mooseheart Orphanage in Illinois where he was trained in music and sign painting. Later he took classes at the Chicago Art Institute and in 1935 received a Master’s in Fine Arts from the University of Iowa. After studies and ordination as a priest in Rome in 1938 he returned to establish the art department at St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, his Alma Mater.
His 40 years as a college professor were distinguished by notable contributions to the fields of letterforms, calligraphy and religious art and he was recognized internationally as an expert on the Roman alphabet. Two of the Printery House’s early artists, Sr. Leonarda Longen, O.S.B. and David Mekelburg were students of Father Catich. He touched many lives as a prolific artist, priest, scholar, teacher, musician, stonecutter, calligrapher, photographer, liturgical artist, historian, lecturer and printer.
For further information about the life and work of Fr. Catich, see http://artlegacyleague.blogspot.com/